White Stuff on Your Peach Pit – What Does It Mean?
You bite into a juicy, ripe peach — golden flesh, sweet aroma, summer in your mouth.
You pop out the pit.
And there it is.
A patch of white, fuzzy, or web-like substance clinging to the crevice of the pit.
Your brain freezes.
“Is this mold?”
“Did I just eat something bad?”
“Should I call a doctor?”
Take a breath.
The good news?
In most cases, this white stuff is not dangerous — and it’s not mold.
Let’s explore what it really is, when it’s safe, and when you should be cautious.
What the White Stuff Actually Is – It’s Not Mold (Usually)
The white substance you’re seeing is most likely cottony leak — a natural condition caused by a yeast-like fungus called Pichia membranifaciens.
But don’t panic.
This isn’t the same as mold on bread or fruit rot.
It’s a non-pathogenic yeast that sometimes grows in the moist crevices of peach pits — especially when peaches are stored in humid conditions or kept too long.
Key Features of Cottony Leak:
Key Features of Cottony Leak:
Color
White, cotton-like, sometimes webby
Location
Inside the pit crack or seam — not on the flesh
Smell
Mild or slightly fermented — not foul or rotten
Flesh condition
Surrounding fruit is still firm and smells sweet
If the flesh of the peach is fine, and the white stuff is only on the pit, it’s likely cottony leak — and the fruit was safe to eat.
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